Pirates Roster Undergoes Major Shake-Up

As soon as the Christmas break was over, the Anaheim Ducks were hard at work, trying to improve the Portland Pirates, while providing some stability to the Anaheim Ducks after they were hit by the injury bug over the weekend.

The Anaheim Ducks announced today that they have acquired goaltender Sebastien Caron, right wing Matt Keith and left wing Chris Durno from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for defenseman Bruno St. Jacques and right wing Pierre Parenteau.

Caron, 26 (6/25/80), has played in one game with the Blackhawks this season, stopping 24-of-25 shots Nov. 10 versus St. Louis in a 3-1 Chicago win. The 6-1, 170-pound netminder has played in nine games with the Norfolk Admirals (AHL) this season, posting a record of 4-4-0 with a 4.03 goals against average (GAA) and a .868 save percentage (SV.%).

Caron has played in 91 career NHL games with Pittsburgh and Chicago and has a record of 25-47-12 with four shutouts, a 3.46 GAA and a .892 SV%. The Amqui, Quebec, native signed with the Blackhawks as a free agent on August 8, 2006. Caron was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the fourth round (86th overall) of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft.

Keith, 23 (4/11/83), has appeared in two games for the Blackhawks this season, going scoreless with four penalty minutes (PIM). In 19 games with Norfolk this season, the Edmonton, Alberta, native has collected 2-8=10 points with 15 PIM.

The 6-2, 200-pound forward has appeared in 24 career NHL games, all with Chicago, recording 2-3=5 points with 25 PIM. Last season with Norfolk, Keith scored 26-19=45 points, establishing a new professional career high in goals. He was originally drafted by Chicago in the second round (59th overall) of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

Durno, 26 (10/31/80), has played in 22 games with Norfolk this season, collecting 4-1=5 points with 61 PIM. The 6-3, 220-pound native of Scarborough, Ont., spent the 2005-06 season with Milwaukee (AHL), scoring 20-20=40 points with 52 PIM in 57 games. Durno was signed as a free agent by Chicago on Sept. 25, 2006.

Parenteau, 26 (3/24/83), has played in 28 games with Portland this season, collecting 15-13=28 points. He was drafted by Anaheim in the ninth round (264th overall) of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

St. Jacques, 26 (8/22/80), has played in 25 games with Portland this season, recording 1-8=9 points. He appeared in one game with Anaheim last season, scoring 1-0=1 point. St. Jacques was acquired from Carolina in exchange for Craig Adams, Oct. 3, 2005.

Caron, Durno and Keith are all expected to report to Portland.

In another move for the Pirates, The Anaheim Ducks have brought a familiar face back to the Cumberland County Civic Center. Goaltender Maxime Ouellet was signed to a PTO on Thursday and was on the ice for his first practice.

Last year, he played 16 games for the Manitoba Moose, going 9-7-0 with a 2.92 GAA and 0.894 save percentage. He also saw action in four NHL games with the Vancouver Canucks, going 0-2-1 with a 3.25 GAA and a 0.894 save percentage.

The Beauport, Quebec native, played 146 games for the Pirates from 2001-02 til 2004-05, with a record of 55-68-18, until the Washington Capitals left to affiliate with the Hershey Bears.

It’s apparent the Ducks are looking to shore up their goaltending ranks as both Ilya Bryzgalov and J.S. Giguere have both gone down to injuries and their return is still unknown. They recalled David McKee from the Augusta Lynx of the ECHL in order to back up Mike Wall, who looks to have assumed the number one role for the time being.

The Pirates also recalled J.B. Bittner from the Augusta Lynx as a replacement to Tim Brent, who was loaned to Team Canada’s Spengler Cup roster. In 30 games with the Lynx, Bittner scored 11 goals, 19 assists for 30 points.

Over the next few days, expect other movements as the rosters for the both the Ducks and Pirates as the rosters begin to settle.